Getting Started with HitMouse Free

1. Set Up the Base Path

1. Navigate to the Settings page in the admin area.
2. Enter a Base Path.
   • The Base Path serves as the foundation for all shortened links.
   • Allowed characters:
     • Uppercase and lowercase letters (a-z, A-Z)
     • Hyphens (-)
     • Underscores (_)
     • Plus signs (+)
3. Important: Changing the Base Path later will affect all existing links.

2. Configure Tracking Settings

1. Under Tracking Settings, configure the following options:
   • Default Redirect Type: Set the default redirect type for new links.
   • Click Tracking:
     • Enable or disable click tracking.
     • Clicks are stored for the last 30 days.
2. Click Save Changes to apply your configuration immediately.

3. Create Your First Link

1. Navigate to HitMouse > Add New Link.
   • This opens the form to create a new link.
2. Fill in the required fields:
   • Title: Can contain any characters except HTML tags.
   • Slug: Only lowercase letters, uppercase letters, numbers, underscores (_), and hyphens (-) are allowed.
   • Target URL: Must start with http:// or https://.
3. Optional:
   • Category: Select a category if one has already been created.
   • Attributes:
     • nofollow: Prevents search engines from following the link.
     • sponsored: Marks the link as an advertisement.
     • new window: Opens the link in a new window.
   • Description: Add an optional description with up to 500 characters.
4. Select the desired Redirect Type (default is set in Tracking Settings).
5. Click Save Link to save your new link.

4. Use the Link

1. Go to the Links page to see a list of all created links.
2. In the Slug field, you will find a clipboard icon on the right.
   • Click this icon to copy the full link.
3. The copied link can now be used in posts, pages, or even on other domains.

By following these steps, HitMouse Free is now set up and ready to use!